Surgical table.



.J. 0. HUNTER. SURGICAL TABLE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1908. 4 923,656. A

Patented June 1,1909.-

Patented June 1, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a 20 L71 3. J7 J5 92 Z0 M x, y B (z 9: i {0X 5 jg r 7 g5 '25 W p 6 aw Z 6 John 0. Hun/Zer- J. 0. HUNTER. SURGIUAL TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1908.

- Patented June 1,1909.

B'SHBETS-SHBET 3.

3140214! b/zn 0. Huh? Inn UNIE' 2 srans TNT @FTQ.

SURGICAL TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red Sulphur Springs, in the county of Monroe and State of VJest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Surgical Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to operating tables intended for use by surgeons and is so de signed as to permit the patient to be placed in the most advantageous position for operation, and the table to be readily and conveniently adjusted.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eflicient in use, and readily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an operating table which can be raised or lowered to suit the surgeon or tilted backwardly or forwardly according to the particular operation to be performed, suitable locking devices being employed for holding the table in adjusted position so that it cannot change accidentally.

A still further object is to provide, in combination with the operating table, a kidney plate or rest extending across the table and adapted to be raised above the same, whereby the bod of the patient will be supported at the mid Is for certain operations.

An additional object is the employment of the table-elevating means for adjusting the said kidney-plate or rest to the desired position, it being merely necessary to unlock the table proper from the elevating means so that the patient can rest on the table and the middle part of the body be supported in raised position by the rest.

\Vith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the appa- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 2'7, 1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Serial No. 450,508.

ratus. Fig. 4c is a vertical transverse section on line t4=, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus with parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the casters for the legs of the apparatus and its locking means. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device for locking the table to the elevating means. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the device for locking the table in position and preventing tilting thereof. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the dif ferent forms of attachments to be used in connection with the table. Fig. 12 is a detail view of a modified means for elevating the table.

Similar reference characters are employed for designating corresponding parts throughout the Views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the supporting frame of the operating table which is composed of corner legs or posts 1, upper side and end bars 2 and 3, and lower side and end bars 4c and 5, the bars being connected together and to the posts by couplings 6. The legs 1 are provided with casters 7 swiveled in the lower ends of the legs by means of pintles 9, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that the table can be wheeled in any direction with ease. The roller 10 of each caster has secured thereto a toothed wheel 11 with which engages a pawl 12 so as to prevent the rollers from turning and thus hold the operating table against accidental movement on the floor. The pawl 12, as shown in Fig. 6, is mounted on a lever 18 fulcrumed on a yoke 1a of the casting and on the lever is a handle 15 whereby the pawl can be locked or unlocked. Then the handles are depressed, the pawls will be disengaged from the toothed wheels so that the rollers will be free to rotate, as when it is desired to move the table from place'to place, and by raising the handles, the pawls will be thrown into locking position for preventing the roller from turning.

Arranged above the frame A is the table B which, in the present instance, is provided with end sections or extensions 16 and 17. The table B comprises slabs 18 of crystal glass or the like set into a frame 19, the slabs being so arranged as to incline to the longitudinal center line for drainage purposes, and the frame has a central longitudinal slot 20 through which the water drains.

The end sections each consist of slabs 21 set into a frame 22, the latter having lugs 23 at the inner corners for embracing the ends of the frame 19 of the table B and these lugs of the end sections are secured by rivets 24to the frame 19 so as to hingedly connect the end sections with the table B, whereby the end sections can be adjusted at any desired position, according to the posture of the patient desired'for the particular operation. The side members of the frame 22- are provided with depending flanges 25, Figs. 1 and 3, that have longitudinally-extending slots 26, and connected with these flanges are bracing members 27 which are hingedly connected, at 28, to the lower ends of depending arms 29 secured to the ends of the table B, the bracing members 27 having bolts 30 that slidably extend through the slots 26 of the flanges 25 and on the bolts are clamping nuts 31 for fastening the free ends of the said members securely to the flanges 25. By loosening the nuts 31, the end extensions 16 and 17 of the table can be swung to any desired position, thenthe nuts tightened for securing the said extensions in place. The table is equipped with a removable side extension or leaf 32 which rests in a frame 33 suitably connected with. the frame 19 of the table, and this frame 33 is supported at its outer edge by means of downwardly and inwardly inclined braces 34 that have their inner ends bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the table, this extension being employed when the person is required to assume the Simms posture.

The table B is mounted on the frame A in such a manner as to permit the table to be raised or lowered so as to bring the patient in sucha position that the surgeon can perform the operation in a comfortable posture. On the supporting frame A are tubular guides 35 which are secured in place in an approximately central position by brackets 36 arranged on the upper and lower ends of the guidesand secured to thetop and bottom' side bars 2 and t of the supporting frame A. Mounted for longitudinal movement in the guides are rack bars 37 that have their upper ends extending outof the guioes and connected with depending side flanges 38 on the frame 19 of the table 13, and meshing with the teeth of the rack bars adjacent the lower ends thereof are pinions 39 for raising and lowering the table. The pinions 39 are each mounted on a lever ett) fulcrumed at 41 on the vertical bar secured to the top and bottom side bars of the frame A, and on the lever is" a latch rod 43 having its extremity formedinto a pawl 1-4 for engaging the teeth of the pinion 39, and this rod is movedlongitudinally against the tension of its spring 45 by a grip piece 46 at the handle of the lever.

In raising the table, the operator and his assistants can manipulate-l'ioth levers at once, preferably by a short up and down movement of the lever so that the table will be raised step by step. By depressing the handle end of the lever, the pinion thereon causes the .rack bar meshing therewith to be raised, and during the lip-stroke, the grip piece {it is compressed so as to withdraw the pawl 41 and permit the lever to be raised while the pinion 39 turns on its axis. .\t the endv of the lip-stroke, the grip piece is released so that. the pawl will again engage the pinion for raising the rack bar another step as the lever is depressed, the strokes of the lever being of such length as to prevent the pinion from disengaging from the rack bar. in order to prevent the table from dropping during the ui rstrolv'es of the levers 40 or while the pinions -3!) are released from the pawls -,l-l, a locking device is employed which consists of rods 17 being connected with crank arms on a horizontally-disposed rock shaft 49. The shaft 1-9 is n1ounted on the left corner posts 1 of the frame and has a handle 50 whereby the shaft can he rocked for withdrawing the locking rods -37, the said rods being held in locking position by a torsional spring 51 coiled on the right top end. bar I) with one end secured thereto and the other end attached to the lever 50 or other suitable part eonnected with such locking rods.

The inner ends of the locking rods 4-? are so shaped as to permit the rack bars 37 to be raised without the rods interfering as the latter will ride freely over the teeth on the rack bar but will interlock with the said teeth to prevent downward movement of the. rack bars so that when the table is to be lowered, the lower end of the lever 50 will be pressed inwardly so as to withdraw the locking rods 47 to free them from the teeth on the rack bars. \Vhile the lever 50 is thus held, the free ends of the elevating lovers are gradually raised so as to permit the table to lower a short distance, when the lever 50 is released so the locking rods 14: will hold the table. while the elevating levers are lowered,

the pawls ll being released from the pinions 39 during the lowering of such lovers. The lever 50 is again pressed to withdraw the locking rods 17 and the elevating levers again raised so that the table can be lowered another set. By rep ating this operation a number of times the table can be graduallylowered to the full extent. modified means for 'aising and lowering the table consists of pinions 52 mounted on a shaft that is rotated by a crank 54- on the outer end thereof. there being a spring pressed pawl 55 engaging each pinion 52 so as to hold the table in any position by preventing the pinions from turning under the weight of the latter. 7

ltlii lift! The table B is provided with a transverse slot 56 adjacent its middle for receiving a kidney-plate or rest 57 in the form of a bar having its ends shaped into arms 58 that ex tend downwardly along the outer side and in overlapping relation with each rack bar 37, the arms being hingedly connected with adjacent rack bars by sleeves 59, whereby the device 57 can tilt with the table B. The upper ends of the rack bar are connected with the depending flanges 38 of the table by looking pins 60, Fig. 2, which pass through openings 61 in the said depending flanges 38 and entering the sleeves or tubular pivots 59 whereby the operating table is releasably mounted on the elevating rack bars. The locking pins 60 are mounted for longitudinal movement in a horizontal shaft 62, Figs. 2 and 7, that is disposed in line with the tubular pivots 59, and the middle portion of the shaft is recessed at 63 for accommodating the inner right-angularly disposed arms 64 on the locking pins 60. The extremities of the arms are bent toward each other and support a helical spring 65 which operates to hold the pins 60 in looking posit-ion. On the shaft 62 are shoulders 66 with which the arms 64 are engaged when the locking pins are retracted to unlock the table from the elevating rack bars for the purpose of using the device 57. To unlock the table from the rack bars, the locking pins are drawn inwardly until the arms 64 are opposite the shoulders 66 and then the arms are turned downwardly to engage behind such shoul ders. When the pins are thus retracted, the means for elevating the rack bars can be operated for projecting the device 57 above the top of the table to properly position the person to be operated on. On the ends of the shaft 62 are suspended U-shaped brackets or hangers 67 disposed along the inside of each tubular guide 35 and provided with apertured lugs or ears 68 through which the said guides 35 extend, and on the latter are stops 69 with which the lugs 68 engage for supporting the table when the device 57 is to be used.

The mechanism for tilting the table will now be described and the same consists of toothed sectors 70 rigidly secured to the ends of the tubular shaft 62 and each arranged within a bracket 67 and meshing with the sectors are pinions 71 secured to the ends of a rotatable shaft 72 mounted at its ends in the brackets 67. The dependingfianges 38 of the table are rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft 62 so that as the latter is turned 7 by the toothed sectors, the table will tilt in the left legs 1 of the frame A. On this shaft 77 is a large hand wheel 78 arranged at the front of the machine so that the operator can readily turn the same for tilting the table. The chain is kept tight during the vertical adjustment of the table by a tightener which consists of an idler pulley 79 mounted on a rod 80 having crank arms 81 pivoted at 82 on the vertical members 42, the idler being maintained in contact with the chain by leaf springs 83 having their free ends connected with the rod 80 and the lower ends fastened to a suitable part of the supporting frame A. The table is locked in tilted or horizontal position by a locking pin 84 at the front of the machine, Figs. 1 and 8, and which enters an aperture 85 in one of the brackets 67 and engages between two of the approximate teeth of the adjacent sector 7 O, the pin being secured to a retracting lever 86 mounted on the bracket 67 and acted on by a spring 87 to hold the pin in looking position. Since the toothed sector engaged by the locking pin 84 is thus prevented from turning, the operating table will be locked against tilting movement. The locking pin, of course, will be held retracted while the table is tilted by the turning of the hand wheel 78 and as soon as the desired adjustment is obtained, the lever 86 will be released so that the locking pin 84 will engage the toothed sector.

Disposed under the table is a drain trough 88 which has its side edges bent upwardly into flanges 89 that have slots through 15-1 which the ends of the shaft 62 extend for the purpose of connecting the trough on the latter for tilting movement independently of the table, and one end of the trough is adjusted by means of a link 90 hingedly connected at 91 to the trough at one corner and secured to the front depending flange 38 of the table by a clamping screw 92 that enters a longitudinal slot 93 of the link. The trough 88 is removably supported on the shaft 82 by spring-pressed keepers 89?. Fig. 3, pivoted to the side flanges 89 of the trough and each held in normal position by a spring 89*. By this means, the inclination of the drain trough can be adjusted for Z carrying off the water that passes through the slot 20 of the table. Under the lower end of the trough is a pan 94 supported on the frame A so as to catch the drainage.

Attached to the table extensions 16 and 17 adjacent the outer corners thereof are bearing plates 95. The rods 96 are adjustable longitudinally in the bearing plates and clamped in position by screws 97. and on the outer ends of the rods are ball heads 98 in which are slidably mounted longitudinally-adjustable bars 99 secured in adjusted position by clamping screws 100, and on the ends of these bars are shoulder-rests 101 for engaging the shoulders of the patient while in the Trandelburg posture. Fig. 10 shows a form of stirrup adapted to be secured in openings 106 in the top coupling 6 for supporting a limb of the patient during the operation. The stirrup consists of the standard 102 having a strap 103 or equivalent means for receiving the limb, itbeing understood that two or four of such devices will be employed for holding the legs or arms or both. In Fig. 11 is represented a standard 104 which can be secured in any top coupling 6 of the frame and provided with an adjustable hook 105 for supporting a syringe in proper relation to the patient during certain operations.

From the foregoing descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and ot' the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of op ration of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a table mounted thereon, elevating means for the table, a device extending across the table for raising the body of the patient on the table at any desired part, and means for connecting the table and device with the elevating means for raising and lowering the table and device together or the device independently.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, a table mounted thereon, elements on the structure for elevating the table, means for detachably connecting the table with the elevating elements, a body lifting device ex tending over the table to be raised and lowered independently thereof, means for permanently connecting the device with the elevating elements, and means for raising the elevating elements.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, vertically-movable elevating elements mounted thereon, means for actuating the elements, a table, means for detachably and tiltably connecting the table with the elevating elements, a device arranged above the table to raise any portion of the body of the patient on the table, and means for pivotally connecting the said device with the elevating elements for raising and lowering the device and permitting the same to tilt with the table.

et. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, a tiltable table thereon, a device extending across the table and arranged to raise the body of the patient above the table, elevating means for the body raising device, and connections between the elevating means and body raising device for permitting the latter to tilt with the table, said connections being disposed coincident with th axis on which the table tilts.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, an adjustable table thereon having a transverse slot, :1 device in the slot arranged to support any portion of the body of the patient oil the table, means for elevating the said device independently of the table, and pivotal connections between the said elevating means and body-lifting device.

(3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, a table mounted thereon for vertical and tilting movement, vertically-movable elements on the frame of the structure, a de vice extending across the table and for supporting the parts of the patient oil the latter, a pivotal connection between the sup porting device and the vertically movable elements, means for raising the said elements, and a device for locking the table against tilting movement.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, a table, a horizontal shaft under the table and on which the said table is mounted, elevating elements on the supporting structure, locking pins carried by the shaft for detachably connecting the same with the elevating elements, and a body-lifting device arranged above the table and connected with the elevating elements to be raised or lowered thereby.

8. In an appa 'atus of the class described, the combination of a supporting structure, a table, elevating elements guided on the structure, means for actuating the elements, spring-pressed devices for detachably connecting the table with the elevating ele ments and sup eiorting the table for tilting movement on the elevating elements, means ar-anged to be engaged by the said devices for holding the latter in retracted position to disconnect the elevating elements from the table, a body-lifting member extending across the table and connected with the elevating elements to move therewith when the said devices are retracted, and a mechanism mounted on the supporting structure for tilting the table. 7

9. The combination of a portable stand, a tiltable table, a horizontal member under the table and forming an axis 011 which the table tilts, elevating elements connected with the said member and mounted to move vertically on the stand and by which the table is carried, stationary means on the stand for guiding the elements, hangers supported on the member, means for preventing the hangers from turning with respect to the elevating elements, a shaft extending between and having its ends mounted in the hangers, pinions on the shaft, toothed sectors fixed on the table and meshing with the pinions, means for raising and lowering the elements and the parts carried thereby, a locking device engaging the elements for holding them in adjusted position, a mechanism for rotating the shaft to tilt the table, and a locking device for holding the table in tilted position.

10. The combination of a stand, verticallyextending guides fixed thereon, elevating elements longitudinally movable in the guides, a member extending between the elements and connected therewith, a table supported on the member and tiltable thereon, hangers supported entirely by the member and disposed under the table, means engaging the stand for preventing the hangers from turning with respect to the elevating elements and for guiding the hangers as the elevating elements are raised and lowered, toothed sectors secured to and depending from the table, pinions carried by the hangers and permanently in mesh with the sectors, means for actuating the pinions si multaneously for tilting the table, and a lopjllring device for preventing tilting of the ta e.

11. The combination of a frame, elements mounted thereon for vertical movement, a member disposed between and carried by the upper end of the elements, a table disposed over and mounted on the member for tilting movement, U-shaped hangers suspended on the member, toothed sectors fixed on the table and depending therefrom and arranged between the arms of the hangers, a shaft having its ends rotatably mounted on the hangers below the sectors, pinions arranged in the hangers and fixed on the shaft, a sprocket on the shaft at a point between the hangers, an operating shaft mounted on the frame, a sprocket on the second shaft, a chain passing over the sprockets for turning the first shaft by the second, a hand wheel mounted on the second shaft, and a locking device for preventing the table from tilting.

12. The combination of a frame, elements mounted thereon for vertical movement, a

horizontal member connected with the upper ends of the elements, a table disposed above the upper ends of the elements, means for connecting the table with the elements for permitting the table to tilt, a drainage device disposed between the elements and under the table and pivotally supported on the member, and means connecting the drainage device with the table to tilt with the latter, said latter means being capable of adjustment for tilting the device independently of the table.

13. The combination of a frame, Vertically-movable elements mounted thereon, a table, side members fixed upon the table and depending therefrom, means for pivotally connecting the said members with the elements, a drainage device pivotally disposed under the table and mounted to tilt, and links connected with the said members and drainage device, and means for adjustably connecting the links with one of the parts.

14. The combination of a frame, a plurality of vertically-movable elements, guides on the frame for the elements, a table, a shaft secured to and disposed under the table, means for connecting the shaft to the elements, a drainage device under the table and tiltably mounted on the shaft to move vertically with the table, U-shaped members suspended on the shaft and held from turning with respect to the vertically movable elements, a second shaft having its ends rotatably mounted on the members, pinions disposed between the arms of the members and keyed to the second shaft, toothed sectors secured to the table and disposed between the arms of the members to mesh with the pinions, means for turning the second shaft to hold the table in tilted or horizontal position, and a locking device for holding the table in any set position.

In'testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN O. HUNTER. 

